Saving while driving
| Remove unnecessary superstructures and loads Unloaded roof racks also increase air resistance when driving and therefore fuel consumption. You should therefore remove them when they are not needed. With an annual mileage of 10,000 kilometers, this saves around 70 liters of fuel or approximately 126 euros. With a roof box, the saving even doubles to over 250 euros. Avoid unnecessary extra weight in the car, which also increases fuel consumption. | Drive at low revs, with foresight and appropriately As everyone learned in driving school, the engine consumes less fuel at low revs. Modern engines run most environmentally friendly between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. Fuel-guzzling acceleration and braking can be avoided by driving with foresight. This also includes switching off the engine during long periods of inactivity, e.g. in traffic jams, at traffic lights and at level crossings, and using the vehicle's automatic start/stop function if necessary. Top speeds also consume an excessive amount of fuel. For example, a car with an average speed of 100 km/h instead of 120 km/h saves around 15% of fuel and therefore 15% of fuel costs over the same distance. |
| Keep an eye on auxiliary units Extras such as air conditioning and rear window heating should only be switched on when you really need them, as they also require electricity and therefore fuel. Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption in city traffic by around 10 - 30 percent. The rear window heater increases fuel consumption by 4 - 7 percent. | The right pressure in the right tires Winter tires are louder, wear out faster and cause up to ten percent more fuel consumption. Winter tires should therefore only be used in winter. The tire pressure recommended by the manufacturer should be checked regularly. A tire pressure that is 0.5 bar too low increases fuel consumption by around five percent with corresponding additional costs. Incorrect tire pressure is also a safety risk and leads to premature tire wear. |
